Shoe.



c. P. HELPLINGER.

EHOE. APPLICATION FILED DEO.3,1908.

Patented Apr. 6, 1909.

I N VE N T TOR Ufiarlasiflflz'nyer Q m m w ATTORNEYS CHARLES FRED HELFLINGER, OF TAYLOR, WASHINGTON.

SHOE

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 6, 1909.

Application filed December 3, 1908. Serial No. 465,857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CnAnLns F. HELFLIN GER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Taylor, in the county of King and State of l/Vashington, have invented a new and Improved Shoe, of which the follo ing is a full, clear, and exact description.

The purpose of this invention is to provide novel details of construction for a shoe, adapted for wear by persons of either sex, which enables the donning of the shoe in a speedy and convenient manner, and the removal thereof readily when this is desired.

A further object is to so construct a shoe, that it will snugly fit the foot of the wearer, will be water proof at the closure joints thereof, and that may be quickly secured by a shoe string without tying the latter.

he invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described, and defined. in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the vie: s.

Figure 1 is a bottom plan View of a shoe embodying features of the invention, shown in opened condition Fig. 2 is a partly sectional bottom plan view of the same in closed adjustment; Fig. 3 is a side view of a rear portion of the improved shoe seen in direction of the arrow a in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional vies of details, taken substantially on the line l4. in Fig. 3.

The features of improvement are shown as applied upon a lon cut shoe generally known as the Oxford style, but may also be applied to high top shoes or to other forms of footwear and as represented in the drawings, 5 represents the vamp or upper leather; 6 the shank; 7 the counter of the shoe, and 8 the heel thereof. These well-known parts of a shoe of the type mentioned may be given any preferred shape, and are formed principally of leather as usual.

Briefly considered, the features of novelty consist in the transverse severance of the outer side and sole or shank of the shoe adj acent to the heel, the cut ending near the inner side of the shoe where the shank is hinged upon the heel, thus permitting the entire counter and heel thereon to be swung laterally for a free insertion of the foot of the nearer, the heel portion then being re turned to its normal position, incasing the heel of the wearer.

The invention also embodies means for closing the crevice between the two divisions of the shoe, and means for securing the counter in closed adjustment, as will now be specifically described.

As appears at a in the drawings, the outer side of the instep portion 5 of the shoe v-Jhere it is usually joined to the counter 7, is severed from the latter, and said out is extended across the shoe close to the heel 8, said out, that nearly severs the shank 6 from the heel portion 8, terminating at a point adjacent to the opposite or inner side of the shoe that remains intact.

In a crevice formed between the insole of the shoe at the heel thereof and the first layer of the heel, a thin metallic joint plate 9 is inserted and secured by rivets l). On the joint plate 9 along the inner edge thereof, a hinge leaf 9 is formed that is lapped upon an elongated leaf plate 10, which is secured on the shank 6 near the inner side edge of the same, these hinge leaves being pivoted together as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 at c.

A preferably elastic joint strip (Z is secured at the transverse edge of the severed sole or shank 6, and a mating joint strip d is secured oppositely on the front wall of the heel 8, and it will be seen that these joint strips will impinge one upon the other, when the shank and heel portions of the shoe are rocked to ward each other, and produce a water-tight joint when they have contact.

A keeper plate 6, formed of thin plate metal, is embedded and secured in the shank 6 along the outer edge thereof, said plate having a channel 6 formed longitudinally therein at its outer edge, as is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and l. A spring locking limb g is projected from the heel 8 opposite the channel in the keeper plate 6, having a hook member 9 formed thereon at its free end, said limb 9 being preferably secured on the joint plate 9, by means of screws. In the keeper plate 2 at the bottom of the channel e therein, one

i or more perforations e are formed, and it will member to enter the opposite perforation and lock the two portions of the shoe together, this occurring when the joint strips (Z, d are in enforced engagement with each other, as is shown in Fig. 2.

A preferably waterproof, pliable tongue piece 10 is provided for closure of the slit be tween the counter and instep portion of the shoe upper, said tongue as indicated in Fig. 3, lapping upon the inner surfaces of said parts. Lacing hooks 7r in suitable number are secured 011 the flapportions of the shoe adjacent to the slit a, and a lacing string i, of a suitable length, is engaged on the hooks and drawn taut, thus closing the vent between said flaps. Upon the end of the lacing string i that is laced upward in the usual manner,

small balls i are secured, and the length of said string is such that the balls when engaged with the upper pair of hooks 7r will hold the string from relaxing, and keep the slit a closed.

It will be seen that when the two parts of the shoe are opened out, a clear passage into the forward portion thereof for the foot of the wearer is afforded, and the simple act of swinging the heel portion over the heel of the person will secure the shoe on the foot, the lacing string when engaged over the hooks 7r completing the operation. Obviously, shoes of the novel construction may be fitted closely and yet be readily put on or removed at any time with ease.

To remove the shoe, a button-hook of the usual form may be inserted along the side of the keeper plate 6 into hooked engagement with the locking limb g, and by a pull thereon release the hook 9 so that the heel portion of the shoe may be swung away from the front portion thereof, the lacing string having first been unlaced to permit the swinging movement of the counter and heel away from the shank and vamp of the shoe.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A shoe comprising two portions thereof transversely slitted to separate them near the heel from one side toward the opposite side thereof, a hinge on the uncut portion of the shoe sole, and a latching device on the sole near the opposite side of the shoe adapt- 1 ed for closely securing the heel portion and front portion of the shoe together.

2. A shoe, cut across the upper and sole from one side nearly to the opposite side thereof, elastic joint strips on the edges formed by the cut, and means for holding the joint strips impinged upon each other.

3. A shoe comprising two portions formed by severing the upper and sole from one side nearly to the opposite side, a flat leafed hinge secured on the sole near the uncut side edge thereof, a sealing joint for closure of the crevice bet-ween the cut edges of the sole, and a latching hook at the opposite side edge of the sole adapted for holding the two portions of the shoe clamped together.

a. A shoe comprising two portions formed by severing the upper and the sole from the outer side nearly to the opposite side thereof, a fiat-leafed hinge on the sole near the uncut side edge thereof, two sealing strips secured on the transverse cut edges of thesole, a keeper plate havin a channel and secured on the sole near the outer edge thereof and having a perforation in the bottom of said channel, and a locking limb having a depend ing hook that may be inserted in the perfora- 'tion.

5. A shoe of the character described comprising two portions connected by a hinge joint at one side thereof and open at the opposite side, a tongue loosely secured on the inner side of the flaps that are at the side opening, lacing hooks or. said flaps, and a lacing string having balls on its ends, that when engaged with the hooks will retain the flaps closed at their edges.

6. A shoe divided through the shank adjacent to the heel, and through the upper upon one side, a hinge connecting the parts on the opposite side, and for permitting said parts to swing horizontally away from each other, a spring catch for retainin the parts in closed relation, and means for securing the sides of the severed upper together.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES FRED HllhFldNGEli.

Witnesses ANNIE J. VVAssA'rT, EMMA ANDREWS. 

